THE speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda, has started his term in the National Assembly by banning the sale of alcoholic beverages during parliamentary sittings, with effect from Wednesday last week.
RICHARD MUPONDE SENIOR REPORTER
The “august” bar had become popular during parliamentary sittings as some legislators skipped debates to drink alcohol, but Mudenda has now put an end to imbibing sessions in a move likely to make him unpopular among most “truant” MPs.
“I also have to inform the House that the members’ bar will, with immediate effect not serve any alcoholic beverages during the sittings of the House.
“Only soft drinks will be served,” declared Mudenda on the second day of the first sitting of the Eighth Parliament last Wednesday as captured by the Hansard, an official record of Parliament proceedings.
Mudenda in last week’s proceedings accused MPs of not respecting him. He has also reportedly told Parliament’s management led by clerk of Parliament Austin Zvoma that he is the one in charge and would not brook any nonsense.
Last Thursday he also dressed down former Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the MDC-T in the House Thokozani Khupe and her party’s MPs for disrespecting him.
He warned the MDC-T legislators that he would take drastic measures if he felt they showed lack of respect. The warning was issued after MDC–T MPs gave Khupe a standing ovation when she entered the National Assembly contrary to the rules of Parliament which state only the speaker of Parliament or presiding officer and President Robert Mugabe can be accorded that respect.
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“I am concerned by the unacceptable behaviour of MPs from the MDC, who rose from their seats when the leader of the opposition, Honourable T Khupe entered the Chamber yesterday (Tuesday October 1).
“More so, Khupe did not even bow to the chair before she took her seat. “This apparent lack of respect for the chair and the august house is a flagrant violation of Standing Rules and Orders and will not be tolerated in future with appropriate censure.
“It is the chair’s hope that such an unfortunate incident will not occur again. “In other words, this is a warning and a serious one for that matter,” Mudenda charged. Buhera South MP Joseph Chinotimba (Zanu PF) appeared to urge the former Matabeleland North governor, with a seemingly provocative question.
Chinotimba said: “Thank you Mr speaker sir. Honourable minister, is it legal that when Members of Parliament get into the House, they stand up for two or three people? “Even the speaker when he gets in the House, even me too?” Mudenda has accused MDC-T MPs of not taking the business of Parliament seriously. He has also given MPs a stern warning to switch off phones when they enter the House.
Bulawayo South MP Eddie Cross was ejected from the House last week for reading a novel while Parliament was in session. Cross said he was bored because his party has banned them from debating the Mugabe’s speech.
